pH detection and measurement of body fluid

Abstract

In the method of detecting pH of vaginal moisture, the steps that include providing a pH detection structure on a carrier stick; providing a protective porous layer adjacent the pH detection structure; manipulating the stick to obtain pH detection of vaginal moisture; and including allowing vaginal moisture to penetrate the porous layer for contact with the pH detection structure, and visually observing the detection structure.

I claim: 
     
       1. In the method of measuring ph of vaginal moisture, the steps that include: a) providing a ph indication, color comparison measurement, and swabbing means on a carrier stick,   b) manipulating the stick between its opposite ends to obtain pH indication of vaginal moisture at one end of the stick,   c) visually interpreting that indication to also obtain pH measurement of such moisture near that one end of the stick,   d) again manipulating the stick between its opposite ends, including endwise reversing it, to swab the vaginal cavity in the area from which pH indication was obtained,   e) and disposing of the stick, whereby disposition of the pH indication, measurement and swabbing means in the form of a strip on said one end of the stick, and   f) said a) step including providing said pH indication means in the form of a strip on said one end of the stick, and   g) providing a protective porous layer to extend along a portion of at least one of the following: X 1 ) said strip   X 2 ) said color comparison measurement means,     h) and providing a smooth surfaced protective bulbous tip, said protective tip extending transversely of and in interfitting relation with the distal ends of said stick and of said porous layer endwise thereof, to be carried by said stick distal end.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 including attaching a portion of said porous layer to said stick. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 including locating said porous layer to extend completely about the said stick. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said color comparison measurement means is provided to have color gradations in a series sequence, and including locating said series lengthwise along the stick. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein said pH measurement means also provided to have a pH numerical sequence in a series associated with said color gradations, and including also locating said numerical sequence lengthwise along the stick. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein said pH indication strip is provided by winding it about said one end of the stick, and adhering it thereto. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 including maintaining a gap along the stick length between said pH indication means and said swabbing means, whereby the stick may be readily grasped at said gap for said manipulation. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 6 including maintaining a gap along the stick length between said strip and sleeve, and said swabbing means, whereby the stick may be readily grasped at said gap for said manipulation without manual interference with any of said a) means. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1 wherein said swabbing means is provided by attaching a moisture-absorbing swab to the other end of said stick, and in spaced relation to both said pH indicating means and said pH measurement means. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 7 wherein said gap is maintained to have a length between 3 and 5 inches. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 7 wherein said gap is provided to have a length of about 4 inches. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 1 wherein swabbing is effected both prior to and subsequent to the obtaining of pH indication, by endwise stick reversal, to facilitate rapid pH measurement. 
     
     
       13. In apparatus for measuring pH of vaginal moisture, the combination comprising: a) and elongated carrier stick,   b) pH indicating first means in the form of a strip on the stick, at one end portion thereof,   c) color comparison pH measurement second means on the stick, spaced from said one end portion thereof,   d) the stick projecting freely from said first and second means for manual manipulation to first obtain pH indication of vaginal moisture at said one end of the stick, and to enable visual interpretation of that indication by color comparison with said second means, without manual release of the stick,   e) the stick then being disposable to dispose of both said first and second means in one disposal step,   f) there being a protective porous layer extending along a portion of at least one of the following: X 1 ) said strip   X 2 ) said color comparison measurement means,     g) and including a smooth surfaced protective tip having bulb shape, said protective tip extending transversely of and in interfitting relation with the distal ends of said stick and of said porous layer endwise thereof, to be carried by said stick distal end.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said strip is adhered to said one end of the stick, and said second means extends lengthwise along the stick, away from said first means. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said porous layer has a portion thereof adhered to the stick. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second means has color gradations in a series sequence lengthwise along the stick. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first means comprises a Nytrazine strip. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said Nytrazine strip is wound about the stick at said one end thereof. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 13 including a vaginal moisture swabbing means attached to the stick at the opposite end thereof, and in spaced relation to said first and second means. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the swabbing means and second means have stick spacing therebetween of between 3 and 5 inches, enabling ready finger grasping of the stick and manipulation thereof, including rapid endwise reversal of the stick. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said spacing is about 4 inches. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein there are pH numerical indications on the stick, in close association with said color gradations. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said porous layer terminates at a location characterized in that a substantial length of the strip remains freely and openly exposed outwardly. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 13 including a protective plastic sleeve extending about a portion of said stick in endwise alignment with said strip, said sleeve carrying said tip. 
     
     
       25. In apparatus to detect pH of vaginal moisture, the combination comprising a) an elongated stick,   b) pH detecting means on the stick, at one end portion thereof,   c) a protective porous layer extending along said pH detecting means,   d) and including a smooth surfaced protective bulbous tip, said protective tip extending transversely of and in interfitting relation with the distal ends of said stick and of said porous layer endwise thereof, to be carried by said stick distal end.   
     
     
       26. The combination of claim 25 wherein said protective porous layer has a portion thereof attached to the stick. 
     
     
       27. The combination of claim 25 wherein said pH detecting means includes at least one of the following: i) a pH indicating strip   ii) a color comparison measurement means.   
     
     
       28. In the method of detecting pH of vaginal moisture, the steps that include: a) providing a pH detection means on a carrier stick,   b) providing a protective porous layer along said pH detection means, and providing a smooth surfaced protective tip having bulb shape, said protective tip extending transversely of and in interfitting relation with the distal ends of said stick and of said porous layer endwise thereof, to be carried by said stick distal end,   c) manipulating the stick to obtain pH detection of vaginal moisture, and including allowing vaginal moisture to penetrate said porous layer for contact with said pH detection means,   d) and visually observing said detection means.   
     
     
       29. The method of claim 28 including removing said porous layer from along said pH detection means to allow said visually observing of said detection means. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 28 including providing said pH detection means to include at least one of the following: i) a pH indicating strip   ii) a color comparison measurement means.   
     
     
       31. In the method of detecting pH of vaginal moisture, the steps that include: a) providing a pH detection means on a carrier stick,   b) providing a protective porous layer, and locating said layer to extend about said pH detection means, on said stick, and providing a smooth surfaced protective tip having substantially bulb shape, said protective tip extending transversely of and in interfitting relation with the distal ends of said stick and of said porous layer endwise thereof, to be carried by said stick distal end,   c) manipulating the stick to obtain pH detection of vaginal moisture, and including allowing vaginal moisture to penetrate said porous layer for contact with said pH detection means,   d) and visually observing said detection means.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31 wherein said layer is provided in the form of a sleeve extending about the stick. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32 including removably attaching said sleeve to the stick. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33 including pulling the sleeve away from the stick to enable said visual observing. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 32 wherein said pH detection means is provided in the form of a pH indicating strip, and including attaching said strip to the stick to extend at at least one side of the stick. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 31 including providing a domed end on the stick, proximate said layer. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 31 wherein said layer is provided in the form of a tissue layer extending adjacent said pH detection means. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37 wherein said pH detection means is provided in the form of a pH indicating strip, and including attaching said strip to the stick to extend at at least one side of the stick.